Title: 1860 Census, Kansas, Douglas, Wakarusa, Leander Kennedy, his wife, andmother Publication: Lawrence Post Office,. page 75
3.
Title: 1860 Census, Kansas, Douglas County, Wakarusa Twp, J R and Mary Kennedyhousehol Publication: Lawrence Post Office, page number 75.
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Title: GEDCOM File : Full.ged
Notes
a.
Note: Hon. J. R. Kennedy was one of the rescuers of Jacob Branson in the freesta te troubles. He was a former member of the legislature and prominent f or his labor on behalf of the Deaf and Dumb. He was the first superentend ant of the Mute Institute at Olathe Kansas and later of Colorado Spring s, Colorado. He travelled by wagon train from Brown County, Ohio to Lawre nce, Kansas in 1854 or 1855. During the long trip, there was a malaria ou tbreak and the children were all given quinine. Three of his children bec ame deaf mutes. Colorado was still a territory when "The Colorado Institute for the Educat ion of Mutes" was founded by Jonathan R. Kennedy in 1874. Jonathan Kenne dy had previously served as the steward of the Kansas School for the De af in Olathe. With an appropriation of $5000 from the Territorial Legislat ure, Kennedy opened the school on April 8, 1874. It began with an enrollme nt of seven students; three of whom were his own and added six more duri ng the course of that year. Its original location was a house in downto wn Colorado Springs. The house was rented for $50/month. Jonathan Kennedy and his wife were the maternal grandparents of the famo us silent film actor Lon Chaney, Sr. whose parents were both deaf. His so n, Lon Chaney, Jr. followed in his footsteps in the early silver screen. Frank Chaney, a Barber, married the Kennedys' daughter - and had a son, L on Chaney. Lon Chaney made it big in silent films, and The Lon Chaney Thea tre - a part of the City Auditorium at the Colorado School for the Deaf a nd Blind - is dedicated to him. "Jonathan R. Kennedy, who was the father of three children that were de af mutes" from:Pages 496-498 from volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of sta te history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, citie s, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devot ed to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chica go : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edit ed by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed May 2002 by Carolyn Ward.
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